V-mail written by Joseph J. Menditto to his parents on 1944 Nov. 1

Page 1
Dear Ma and Pa,
I'm feeling fine and hope your all in the best of health back home. I had the chance to go to Rome on a pass Sunday and took the opportunity. It rained and I didn't get in so much sightseeing but went to a couple of shows. One was an American movie and the other was an Italian stage show. It was a pretty good chorus. I didn't quite understand what they were saying but the singing and costumes were good. Its store wasn't good as I couldn't buy any souveniers.
I received a letter from (?) and it was good to hear from him. I hope he stays where he is. I'll be going back to my outfit from the hospital here in a day or so. I hope the darn rain clears up. It rains off and on all the time now. How's the weather back home? It'll be snowing here soon.
Yesterday was "All Saints Day" so I went to remember in the hospital chapel. In a few days it will be one year I've been overseas. Boy I hope I'm home before the second year is up. They had a Halloween party in the hospital the other day. We played all kinds of halloween games, bobbing for apples, pinning the mustache on Hitler etc. I won a bar of candy and a pack of ciggarettes in two of the games. It won't be long before Thanksgiving will be here. I'll be closing for now with love and (?) to all the family, kids and Marge.
Love,
Joe

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Reproduced with permission. This image is subject to copyright protection, for permission to reproduce contact Central Connecticut State University, Center for Public Policy and Social Research at (860) 832-2976.

Joseph J. Menditto Papers. VHP2004/12.I.1a. Veterans History Project; Central Connecticut State University, Center for Public Policy and Social Research.

Transcript

Page 1
Dear Ma and Pa,
I'm feeling fine and hope your all in the best of health back home. I had the chance to go to Rome on a pass Sunday and took the opportunity. It rained and I didn't get in so much sightseeing but went to a couple of shows. One was an American movie and the other was an Italian stage show. It was a pretty good chorus. I didn't quite understand what they were saying but the singing and costumes were good. Its store wasn't good as I couldn't buy any souveniers.
I received a letter from (?) and it was good to hear from him. I hope he stays where he is. I'll be going back to my outfit from the hospital here in a day or so. I hope the darn rain clears up. It rains off and on all the time now. How's the weather back home? It'll be snowing here soon.
Yesterday was "All Saints Day" so I went to remember in the hospital chapel. In a few days it will be one year I've been overseas. Boy I hope I'm home before the second year is up. They had a Halloween party in the hospital the other day. We played all kinds of halloween games, bobbing for apples, pinning the mustache on Hitler etc. I won a bar of candy and a pack of ciggarettes in two of the games. It won't be long before Thanksgiving will be here. I'll be closing for now with love and (?) to all the family, kids and Marge.
Love,
Joe